Author Corey Ford once wrote, “Properly trained, a man can be dog’s best friend.”

For 12 highly trained servicemembers here, the military working dog, or MWD, is not only their friend but their trusted companion, loyal follower and No. 1 teammate.

But, this team like so many others comes from lots of hard work and good communication skills from both sides of the team.

"You really have to want to be a MWD handler," said Tech. Sgt. Randall Nelson, 6th Security Forces Squadron MWD kennel master. "It takes a lot of extra effort getting into this program and a lot more maintaining a working relationship with your dog."

At 1 to 2 years old, German shepherds and Belgian Malanois are selected and purchased for MWD duty. These are the two most common MWD breeds. Once selected, the dogs begin a 60 to 90 day training regime at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. This is where the dogs are first taught to detect either explosives or drugs. They also learn deterrence training and how to protect their handlers at all times.

Servicemembers who want to become handlers must also meet strict requirements. They must be in the security forces career field and must be a senior airman or higher in rank. They must have at least 33 months time in service and have their five-level skill rating complete. They must also get the base kennel master’s approval to be selected.

Once selected, the Airmen attend Lackland’s 11-week long MWD handler’s course. The handlers-in-training meet their new best friend and begin learning to control their dog and work with their dog. The handlers also learn how to read their dog’s behavior.

"Training is the key to the success of the MWD team," said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Ellis, squadron MWD trainer. "Once a handler gets paired with a MWD they must learn to work as one."

Working as a team doesn't come instantly either. Military working dog handlers usually work 12 to 14 hour days including weekends. They spend this time training, feeding, grooming and ensuring their dog is 100 percent mission capable.

"It's like taking care of a 3 to 4-year-old (child,)" Sergeant Ellis said. "Everyday is different and there is always something to do when you work with (military working dogs.)"

All the extra effort the teams put forth offer some unique incentives.

The dogs get verbal praise from their best friend and can play with their favorite rubber ball or toy for doing a good job. The handler gets the opportunity to work with one of the finest tools the military has to offer.

Questioning whether or not to put a little extra effort in each day to be successful isn't even a thought for the teams -- who see yet another kind of incentive on the job whether doing their daily patrols on base or like one MacDill AFB MWD team currently deployed to the streets of a war zone.

Staff Sgt. Michael Hendricks and his dog, Conny, are deployed with the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Speicher, Tikrit.

Their primary mission is to support the division by searching for weapon caches, conducting no-notice traffic control points as well as providing security and safety to the servicemembers deployed with them.

During recent elections in the city of Bayji, Iraq, the time, training and skills of the MacDill AFB duo proved to be “invaluable” as Sergeant Hendricks and Conny found two 130mm shells filled with C-4 explosives, one pound of C-4 and one improvised explosive device.

Sergeant Hendricks said the teams’ success can be credited to the trust and knowledge both dog and handler have from working together.

“I trust in my dog's abilities," Sergeant Hendricks said. "I know what Conny can and can’t do and we go from there."

Sergeant Hendricks said the MWD team in Iraq and at home has become a necessity, because MWDs are able to search and find explosives and contraband, which people could never find.

"If MWDs were unavailable, lives would be at stake," he said.

Like so many others, MacDill AFB's MWD section has some of the most well-trained teams the Air Force has to offer. And, their efforts -- the long training and hours of trust and friendship between dog and handler -- help keep the team one sniff ahead of the bad guys -- providing safety for servicemembers and their families, as well as potentially saving thousands of lives around the world.